(Hybrid) Associate Director-HSC Pre Award - Office of Research and Graduate Education - West Virginia University Research Corporation

The Office of Research and Graduate Education at West Virginia University Research Corporation is currently accepting applications for a (Hybrid) Associate Director of HSC Pre Award.

About the Opportunity

The primary responsibility of the position is to serve as the Associate Director for HSC Pre/Post-Award, Office of Research and Graduate Education. The Associate Director is the leader of the pre-award sub-department and is responsible for routine to complex sub-department decision making. The Associate Director will provide supervisory and day-to-day recommendations to the Director and Assistant Director of HSC Pre-/Post-Award. This position will hold the primary role as the HSC administrative approver (on behalf of executive leadership in the HSC) for all grant submissions to extramural sponsors in conjunction with the HSC Director, Pre-/Post-Award. This position will be a primary liaison with the WVU Office of Sponsored Programs.

This position is responsible to oversee, plan, direct, and coordinate organizational activities including policy formulation, management of daily operations, and resource stewardship consistent with business objectives. It may oversee pre- or post-award functions such as procurement, human resources, communications, finance, general operations, and/or office support. Provides operational leadership; requires creativity, and interpretive abilities to effectively resolve complex problems. Work effort has significant impact on personnel, budget and operations, producing major organizational, legal and financial results and/or liability.

At WVU Research Corporation, we strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU Research Corporation offers a comprehensive benefits package with a variety of options to suit your needs:

• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• Paid Time off (PTO)
• 403(b) retirement savings with a fully vested 3% employee contribution match, (Employees have the option of contributing an additional 1-3% of their earnings to the plan, which is also matched by the WVURC)
• A range of health insurance and other benefits
• Dependent Education Scholarship
• WVU Perks

What You'll Do

• Supports executive HSC leadership in developing maintaining a proactive grant management environment, which supports principle investigator needs and meets sponsor, university, state and federal requirements.
• Engage in strategic planning processes, including long-term planning of the strategic direction of research administration operating processes.
• Independently oversees the review and approval for all special request considerations at the HSC level such as special F&A rate requests, Cost Share considerations, institutional support/letters, etc.
• Participate in the management and direction of training processes for new employees supporting research administration in the HSC.
• Oversees the HSC “Tweak My Aims” initiative in support of enhancing proposal development.
• Engage and/or connect team in professional and leadership development activities as appropriate to maximize office efficiency and effectiveness.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures in collaboration with the Director of HSC Pre-/Post-Award.
• Oversee management of personnel matters for direct reports, including but not limited to, work assignments, professional development, leave approvals, development and delivery of performance evaluations, and/or disciplinary actions as needed.
• Participating in the development of an MOU w/ the Office of Sponsored Programs for the HSC Pilot/training program for the future submission of proposals to sponsors directly through the Office of Research & Graduate Education on behalf of the institution.  This incumbent will serve in the role of AOR (authorized organizational representative) on behalf of the institution for submitting proposals in the HSC under this new pilot program.
• Working directly with faculty & staff to help them produce grant proposal packages including proposal budgets and subsequent budget narratives with optimal prospects for success by maintaining knowledge of professional principles, legal and/or reporting requirements.
• Evaluate proposals for consistency to meet sponsor regulations and compliance.
• Locating and downloading specific agency guidelines and forms and ensuring that proposal packages including proposal budgets and budget narratives comply with requirements.
• Communicating proposal budgets to faculty and/or staff.
• Assisting with, completing and/or reviewing forms necessary for submission of proposal budgets and budget narratives to sponsor agency. Providing general and specific advice and direction to faculty and staff on budget development. 
• Reviewing and ensuring proper collaboration as well as follow-up to other units within HSC and the WVU Office of Sponsored Programs.
• Advising faculty of University and Research Corporation policies and procedures.
• Serving as HSC primary advisor or and assisting with the preparation of large, complex, multi-million dollar and sometimes multi-institutional proposals. 
• As needed, reviewing and submitting proposals in accordance with electronic proposal submission requirements or other submission requirements.
• Assisting with policy and procedure development and implementation within the HSC as related to grants administration, particularly pre-award.
• Supervision of Pre-Award staff.
• Advises/educates members of the HSC community on area of expertise as it applies to pre- and post-award processes and management.
• Advise/troubleshoot solutions that will enhance the efficiency of pre- and post-award administration at the HSC.
• Develop and foster effective collaborations among schools and departments within the HSC and university community.
• Coordinates and supports the research and service missions for the Office of Research and Graduate Education.
• Works independently to implement a variety of correspondence and special projects.  Counsels and trains other members within the unit to ensure cross team support.
• In collaboration with the Director, develops and maintains a proactive pre and post award grants environment, which supports the HSC research mission and principle investigator(s) needs.
• Oversee the development of special reporting for grants and research programs as needed.
• Facilitate and present at meetings and training sessions for the professional development of organization.

• Bachelor’s degree
• A minimum of six (6) years of experience in the following:
  • Grants and contracts administration, with direct experience in electronic proposal submittal, electronic approval, routing systems, web access, and other aspects of the eRA domain.
• A minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or program management experience.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience with Pre- and Post-Award Grants administration including working with proposals and sponsored projects.
• Skills in, or knowledge of, professional principles, legal and/or reporting requirements affecting extramurally sponsored projects.
• Experience and advanced knowledge of computer software including Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe.
• Experience in developing and implementing new policies and strategies
• Experience with managing sponsored projects and contracts administration in a large research university setting such as an academic, healthcare and basic science research setting, service oriented non-profit, or related field required. Knowledge of State, Board of Governors, and University policies and procedures.
• Experience interpreting federal documents such as Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), OMB Circulars, and other regulatory documents
• Experience working with grants/contracts accounting
• Experience with supervising personnel and assigning job dutie
• Experience speaking/writing effective, clear & concise reports
• Experience researching, collecting data to form reports and make recommendation
• Ability to perform financial calculations, prepare/maintain financial reports, analysis, and summaries for a large customer base.
• Proficiency in the preparation of federal grant packages, particularly SF424s for NIH proposals.
• Proficiency in reading and interpreting federal regulations.
• Proficiency in maintaining a budget in accordance with uniform administrative requirements
• Skilled in preparing comprehensive reports and present ideas clearly and concisely.
• Skilled in preparing and presenting workshops, seminars, and other types of educational presentations to faculty, staff and administrators regarding proposal and budget development.
• Proficient in the MS Office Suite, as well as Adobe and other related applications.
• Ability to provide high-level oral and written communication necessary to explain complex sponsor and budgetary guidelines to appropriate management staff, to justify recommendations, and to interact with regulatory agencies and auditors.
  

The WVURC was created as a not-for-profit corporation in 1985 to support research (R1) at West Virginia University.  We provide evaluation, development, patenting, management, and marketing services for inventions of the faculty, staff and students of the University.

The WVURC receives and administers funds awarded by external agencies for research and other activities and is responsible for helping protect intellectual property through patents, copyrights and licensing agreements for start-up companies based on University research.

West Virginia University Research Corporation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We value diversity among its employees and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.

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